Afghanistan: Opium

Lord Dykes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they are content with the progress made by the Government of Afghanistan and the coalition allies to eradicate opium crop output.

Lord Triesman: The coalition allies are not in Afghanistan to take direct action against the drugs trade and they do not have a role in interdicting opiates or eradicating opium poppies in the fields. That is a job for the Afghan Government. The coalition allies are in Afghanistan to contribute to the broader counter-narcotics effort by providing a secure environment in which the rule of law can be applied, reconstruction can take place and legal rural livelihoods can be developed.
	Governor-led eradication has been conducted in 15 provinces. Reports indicate that significantly more eradication has been delivered to date than last year. At this early stage, the likely level of eradication actually delivered should amount to more than 12,500 hectare, compared to 5,103 hectare in 2005. Allowing a yield of 40 kilograms of opium per hectare, 12,500 hectare amounts to 500 tonnes of opium.
	The Government of Afghanistan's national drug control strategy (NDCS) is not an eradication-led strategy. It focuses on four key priorities—targeting traffickers, strengthening livelihoods, reducing demand and developing institutions. While the NDCS recognises that there is a role for eradication, it makes it clear that eradication should be ground-based and targeted where there is access to legal livelihoods.

Armed Forces: Joint Strike Fighter

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answers by the Lord Sainsbury of Turville on 2 May (WA 47) and 11 May (WA 149), whether they will bring forward secondary legislation on strategic export control to make specific provision forbidding the onward transmission of technical information in relation to the Joint Strike Fighter.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: There are no plans to bring forward such specific legislation. As the previous Answers have made clear, the Government already have the necessary powers under the Export Control Act to control exports from the UK of sensitive military goods and technology.

Armed Forces: Joint Strike Fighter

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answers by the Lord Sainsbury of Turville on 2 May (WA 47) and 11 May (WA 149), whether the United Kingdom would be required by European Union treaty obligations to hand over to other European Union member states technology communicated to the United Kingdom by the United States following concerns raised by the Chairman of the Committee on International Relations of the United States House of Representatives.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: In terms of European Community export controls, there is no requirement for the UK to provide other EU member states with military goods or technology. Similarly, European Union treaty obligations do not require the UK to hand over to other EU member states military technology communicated to the UK by the United States.

Asylum Seekers: Children

Lord Ouseley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many asylum seekers' children have been imprisoned since 2003; and for what periods.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Period data were included for the first time in the quarterly asylum statistics bulletin published in February 2006. This covered the period between July and September 2005. The latest published period statistics pertain to persons leaving detention from October to December 2005. This information is broken down into those recorded as under the age of 18 at the end of their detention and length of detention. The information is published in the quarterly asylum bulletin, available on the Home Office's Research, Development and Statistics website at www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigrationl.html.

British Citizenship

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Under what circumstances a non-British citizen married to a British citizen and living in the United Kingdom can obtain a British passport.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: A non-British citizen spouse of a British citizen must first naturalise as a British citizen before applying for a British passport. Alternatively, those who hold some other form of British nationality or satisfy the requirements for children of British-born mothers may have an entitlement to register as British citizens. There are a number of requirements that applicants must satisfy, which are explained in guidance leaflets that accompany application forms.

Civil Service: Personal Relationships with Ministers

Lord Tebbit: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister first became aware that a civil servant in the department was conducting a personal relationship with the Deputy Prime Minister; and
	Whether it is compatible with the codes governing the conduct of civil servants that a civil servant should engage in a personal relationship with a Cabinet Minister in his or her department; and
	Whether the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister gave advice to the Deputy Prime Minister concerning his conduct towards a civil servant working in his office with whom he was conducting a personal relationship; and whether the Permanent Secretary gave advice to that civil servant.

Baroness Andrews: This is a private matter. However, I refer the noble Lord to the Answer given to the honourable Member for Lewes (Norman Baker) on 25 May 2006.

Conflict Prevention

Baroness Tonge: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What areas of the world are being considered by the Global and Africa Conflict Prevention Pools.

Lord Triesman: The Global Conflict Prevention Pool currently funds 11 joint Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO)/Department for International Development (DfID)/Ministry of Defence (MoD) strategies addressing specific countries or regions: Afghanistan; the Balkans; Caribbean; Latin America (including Belize/Guatemala); Indonesia/East Timor; India/Pakistan; Iraq; Middle East and North Africa; Nepal; Russia and Commonwealth of Independent States and Sri Lanka. It also funds three joint FCO/DfID/MoD strategies aimed at support for international capacity-building: security sector reform, small arms and light weapons, and the UN.
	The Africa Conflict Prevention Pool funds bilateral assistance to a range of countries throughout sub-Saharan Africa. The current priorities are Sudan; Sierra Leone; the Great Lakes region; Uganda and Nigeria. The pool also supports work in Côte d'Ivoire and Liberia and in countries less directly affected by conflict, for example, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa. The pool also funds support to continental and regional bodies, including the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States.

Commission for Equality and Human Rights

Lord Ouseley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have approached specific individuals to encourage them to apply for the appointment of chair of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights; and, if so, who.

Baroness Andrews: The process to recruit the chair of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights includes an executive search, which has been conducted by an external recruitment company. The use of such companies is standard practice when making public appointments. The relevant guidance issued to government departments states:
	"The process must be open and transparent, but remember that much of the information involved will be of a personal nature and should be treated as such".
	It is not possible for this reason to disclose the names of individuals who have been approached as part of the executive search.

European Convention on Human Rights

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have evaluated the jurisprudence of the courts of the other member states of the European Union in interpreting and applying the European Convention on Human Rights; and, if so, whether they will publish such an evaluation.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: The Prime Minister wrote to the Home Secretary following his recent appointment. In that letter, the Prime Minister asked the Home Secretary to consider,
	"whether primary legislation is needed to address the issue of court rulings which over-rule the Government in a way that is inconsistent with other EU countries interpretation of the European Convention on Human Rights".
	This work is now being undertaken.

Government: Official Residences

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which (a) officials and (b) former officials of HM Treasury currently have the use of a residence owned or financed by the Government; and, in each case, what is (i) the title of the official in residence, serving or retired, and (ii) the annual running cost of the residence.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: No current or former Treasury officials have the use of a residence owned or financed by the Government.

Government: Official Residences

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which (a) officials, and (b) former officials of the Department for Trade and Industry currently have the use of a residence owned or financed by the Government; and, in each case, what is (i) the title of the official in residence, serving or retired; and (ii) the annual running cost of the residence.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The DTI has no such residential properties.

House of Lords: Appointments Commission

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How the House of Lords Appointments Commission was appointed; by whom, on what basis and when; and with what remit; and
	How the chairman of the House of Lords Appointments Commission was appointed; by whom, on what basis and when; and what experience of exercising judgment in making senior appointments was required.

Baroness Amos: The commission comprises independent members and party-political members. The independent members were appointed through open competition, conducted in accordance with the code of practice of the Commissioner for Public Appointments. The posts were advertised and interviews were held. Recommendations for appointment were made by the interview panel to the Prime Minister. The three political party representatives were nominated by the respective party leaders direct to the Prime Minister.
	The commission was appointed by the Prime Minister in 2000 for a three-year term. It was reappointed in 2003 and the members have recently had their terms extended until the end of the year. The commission was established as an advisory, non-departmental public body, on a non-statutory basis. Its remit is to make recommendations for non-party political peerages to Her Majesty the Queen, via the Prime Minister. It also vets, for propriety, all recommendations for party-political peerages and all names added to the honours lists by the Prime Minister.
	The chairman was appointed through the same open competition as the members and on the same terms. The eligibility criteria for this post specified:
	the ability to provide firm leadership, to ensure that the commission's procedures reflect best public appointments practice;
	previous experience of managing a team of influential people, for example by chairing boards of substantial public, private or voluntary sector organisations;
	experience of applying equal opportunities policies and practices in selecting for senior appointments; and
	the ability to exercise sound judgment.

Housing: Affordable Homes

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which hospital sites were acquired by English Partnerships from the Department of Health on 6 April 2005; in each case, what is the proportion of affordable homes provided for in planning applications submitted so far; and what contractual arrangements will be made to ensure that the taxpayer shares in the profits of development.

Baroness Andrews: Ninety-six sites were acquired by English Partnerships from the Department of Health. These sites are listed below. Sixty-seven of these sites transferred to English Partnerships on 6 April 2005 and a further 15 sites transferred on 28 March 2006. The remaining 14 sites are due to transfer during 2006–07 as operational uses cease.
	English Partnerships Hospital Sites Programme
	South-east
	Alpha House, Droxford, Winchester
	Knowle Hospital, Winchester
	Cane Hill, Coulsdon, Croydon
	Lord Mayor Treloar, Alton
	Park Prewett, Basingstoke
	Coldeast Hospital, Fareham
	St Francis Hospital, Haywards Heath
	Leybourne Grange, Maidstone
	Linton Hospital, Maidstone
	Milford Hospital, Milford
	Land at Hill House, Rye
	Sheppey Hospital, Sheppey
	Land at St Johns Hospital, Stone
	Fair Mile Hospital, Cholsey
	Renny Lodge, Newport Pagnell
	St Augustine Hospital, Chartham
	Mabledon Hospital, Dartford
	Epsom Cluster Horton Farm, Epsom
	Epsom Cluster Retail Centre, Epsom
	Royal Earlswood, Redhill
	Hazel Farm, Southampton
	Tatchbury Hospital, Calmore, New Forest
	Celsea Place, Cholsey
	The Crescent & The Downs, Chartham
	Unit 7 Merlin Court, Aylesbury
	Beaumont Villa, Northampton
	Coach House, Kingsworthy, Winchester
	Southlands Hospital, Shoreham
	West Park Hospital, Epsom
	St Leonard's Hospital, Ringwood
	St Ebba's Hospital, Epsom
	Graylingwell, Chichester
	Stone House, Dartford
	Royal Sea Bathing Hospital, Margate
	East 
	Land at Heath Close, Billericay
	Severalls Hospital Site, Colchester
	Land adjoining Reckett House, Clacton
	Rush Court, Bedford
	St Mary's House, Norwich
	Turner Village Hospital, Colchester
	St Margaret's Hospital, Epping
	Runwell Hospital, Chelmsford
	St Clements Social Club, Ipswich
	South-west
	Cashes Green Hospital, Stroud
	Land at St Mary's Axminster
	Tiverton District Hospital, Tiverton
	Belmont Hospital, Tiverton
	Cottages one to five, Herrison, Charminister
	Lower Farm Buildings, Herrison, Charminster
	Sewer Field, Herrison, Charminister
	Hanham Hall, Bristol
	Newfoundland Court Office, Bristol
	Brunel House, Gloucester
	Yorks & The Humber 
	Hull Maternity Hospital, Hull
	Land at Springfield, Grimsby
	Scartho Hall, Grimsby
	Scartho Hall—site opposite, Grimsby
	Grimsby District Hospital, Grimsby
	Land at Norton Aerodrome, Sheffield
	Seacroft Hospital Land, Leeds
	Wharfdale General Hospital, Otley
	North-west
	Whittingham, Preston
	Winwick Farm, Warrington
	Land at Lancaster Moor, Lancaster
	Countess of Chester, Chester
	Winwick Sports and Social Club, Warrington
	Piccadilly Gardens, Lancaster
	North-east
	Cherry Knowle Hospital, Sunderland
	Hartlepool General Hospital, Hartlepool
	Killingworth Stores, Killingworth, North Tyneside
	St Georges Hospital, Castle Morpeth
	Ashington General Hospital, Ashington
	Maiden Law Hospital, Lancaster
	Prudhoe Hospital, Prudhoe
	Aycliffe Hospital, Darlington
	Birney Hall Farm, Castle Morpeth
	Stannington Children's Hospital, Castle Morpeth
	Shotley Bridge Hospital, Consett
	Tindale Crescent, Bishop Auckland
	Homelands Hospital, Crook
	East Midlands
	Ashover House, Lincoln
	Derby Chest Clinic, Derby
	Stretton Hall Farmland, Oadby
	Carey House, Skegness
	Towers Hospital, Leicester
	Manor/Kingsway Hospital, Derby
	West Midlands
	Lea Castle Hospital, Kidderminster
	Ledbury Cottage, Ledbury
	Barnsley Hall Land, Bromsgrove
	Limes, Himley
	Chemsley ADR Land, Solihull
	Middlefield, Knowle
	Bucknall Main Site, Bucknall, Stoke-on-Trent
	Royal Shrewsbury, Shopshire
	Smallwood Health Centre, Redditch
	The Beeches Hospital, Telford
	English Partnerships will seek to maximise the proportion of homes on each site that are affordable. Final numbers will be determined on a site-by-site basis in discussion with local planning authorities as sites are taken forward. Sites from the programme put out to the market to date have existing planning permissions.
	The first phase of the Park Prewett site in Basingstoke was the first of the hospital sites to be sold in November 2005. This phase of the site's development is expected to provide 884 new homes, 335 of which will be in affordable tenures. For the hospital sites programme as a whole, it is expected that up to 50 per cent of the estimated 14,000 homes to be built will be affordable.
	When disposing of sites, English Partnerships will be seeking to obtain best value for the public sector. Contractual agreements with developers will be designed to ensure that English Partnerships benefits from future enhanced site value.

Industrial Derating: Northern Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much revenue will be raised in Northern Ireland in each of the next five years as a result of industrial derating.

Lord Rooker: The removal of industrial derating commenced on 1 April 2005 and will be phased out over seven years.
	The following table displays the estimated projected amount of total revenue from industrial derating.
	
		
			 Year Rate Liability Estimated Revenue 
			 2006–07 25% £18.2 million 
			 2007–08 35% £26.1 million 
			 2008–09 50% £38.2 million 
			 2009–10 75% £58.7 million 
			 2010–11 75% £60.1 million 
		
	
	Projections are based on the total increase of non-domestic rate of 4.5 per cent per annum.
	These estimates may change as a consequence of changing rate increases or updates to collection and valuation information.

Israel and Palestine

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the quartet has considered the accord recently reached between members of all Palestinian factions currently held in Israeli prisons and detention centres and the proposed factional dialogue to be held in Ramallah on 23 May.

Lord Triesman: We are aware of the accord recently reached by leaders of Palestinian factions within the Ketziot prison facility in Israel. This shows some welcome signs of movement in a moderate direction on the part of some of these groups. But the accord is also in parts ambiguous, notably on recognition of the state of Israel and the use of violence for political ends. It has not been endorsed by either the wider Palestinian prisoner network or the Hamas Government.
	We understand that the proposed national dialogue has been postponed and is now scheduled to begin on 25 May in Ramallah and Gaza city. We hope that the Hamas Government will take the opportunity of this dialogue to comply fully with the three quartet conditions. Quartet principals and envoys receive regular updates on significant events in the Occupied Territories from their representatives and diplomatic missions in the region. Their most recent discussion was on 9 May in New York.

Israel and Palestine: Gaza

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the quartet is examining the risk that the Gaza Strip will be deprived of electricity in the next two weeks; and whether it will take steps to prevent this happening.

Lord Triesman: The quartet (US, EU, UN and Russia) is aware of the current humanitarian situation in Gaza, including fuel shortages. At the 9 May meeting, the quartet urged Israel to take steps to improve the humanitarian situation of the Palestinian people and reiterated that the Palestinian Authority Government must fulfil their responsibilities with respect to basic human needs, including health services, and must also ensure proper fiscal management and provision of services.
	We, along with the quartet and our other international partners, are continuing to provide assistance to the Palestinian people. On 15 May, EU Foreign Ministers welcomed the willingness of the quartet to endorse a temporary international mechanism, the objective of which is direct delivery and supervision of assistance to the Palestinian people. The EU is working urgently to develop such a mechanism, which, as a matter of priority, will be aimed at contributing to meet basic needs, including health services. It will consult international financial institutions and other key partners and invite other donors to join actively in the effort to establish the mechanism as soon as possible.
	I refer the noble Lord to the Answer that I gave the noble Viscount, Lord Waverley, on 23 May (Official Report, cols. 693–696).

Israel and Palestine: Gaza

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they support the re-opening of the Karni crossing-point in Gaza.

Lord Triesman: We, along with the quartet (US, EU, UN and Russia) and our EU partners, continue to call upon the Israeli Government to keep the Karni crossing open. We last raised our concerns with the Israeli Government on 20 April. More recently, the quartet on 9 May and EU Foreign Ministers on 15 May called upon both sides to take steps to implement their obligations under the 15 November agreement on movement and access.

Israel and Palestine: Jerusalem

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they are making representations to the Government of Israel on the construction of a police station in the E1 block on the east side of Jerusalem.

Lord Triesman: We are aware of the construction of a police station in the E1 area. Settlements are illegal under international law and settlement construction is an obstacle to peace. The road map is clear that Israel should freeze all settlement construction, including the "natural growth" of existing settlements, and dismantle all outposts built since 2001. We last raised settlement construction with the Israeli Government on 2 April, and specifically construction in the E1 area on 23 December 2005.

Israel and Palestine: Jerusalem

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the quartet has been informed about the shortage of school classrooms for young Palestinians in east Jerusalem; and whether this international group is able to act to address this situation.

Lord Triesman: Quartet (US, EU, UN and Russia) principals and envoys receive regular updates on significant events in the Occupied Territories from their representatives and diplomatic missions in the region. Their most recent discussion was on 9 May in New York. The quartet is aware of the current humanitarian situation in the Occupied Territories. At the 9 May meeting, the quartet urged Israel to take steps to improve the humanitarian situation of the Palestinian people. The quartet reiterated that the Palestinian Authority Government must fulfil their responsibilities with respect to basic human needs, including health services, as well as for proper fiscal management and provision of services. Since 1994, the Palestinian Ministry of Education has provided approximately 12,000 classrooms. The quartet will continue to monitor the situation closely.

Local Government: Liability Orders

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the average costs in England and Wales (a) to a local authority in issuing a summons to attend a liability order hearing to a council tax payer; and (b) to the magistrates' courts charged to the local authorities in agreeing to a liability order; and what are the average amounts charged by local authorities in England and Wales to a council tax payer to cover the costs of local authorities and magistrates courts in (a) and (b) above.

Baroness Andrews: The information requested is not separately identified in existing data collections on local authorities' expenditure and could therefore be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

NHS: Primary Care Trusts

Baroness Shephard of Northwold: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What has been the cost to the taxpayer of setting up and subsequently dismantling primary care trusts in England.

Lord Warner: The costs of establishing primary care trusts were met from within the financial allocations to the health authorities and are not separately identifiable.
	The reconfiguration of primary care trusts and strategic health authorities is expected to deliver savings of £250 million every year for reinvestment in frontline services.

Palestine: Aid

Baroness Tonge: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What discussions they have had with the Israeli Government and the European Union concerning the resumption of aid to Palestine.

Baroness Amos: Neither the EU nor the UK has suspended aid to the Palestinian people. However, until the Hamas-led Government comply with the principles laid out by the quartet, we cannot provide assistance directly to the Palestinian Cabinet or its ministries. However, we are continuing to provide aid through other channels. Last month, DfID released £15 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, which provides health, education and other basic services to Palestinian refugees.
	The UK Government are in close contact with the EU, Israel and other parties about funding for the occupied Palestinian territories. On 15 May, the EU agreed to take forward the quartet's proposal, based on an idea by the UK and France, for an international mechanism to meet the Palestinians' basic needs. The UK Government are working closely with the European Commission in developing this mechanism. The EU has also called on Israel to resume transfers of withheld Palestinian tax and customs revenues.

Palestine: Civil Servants

Baroness Tonge: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What discussions they have had with the European Union to find a way of paying the 160,000 Palestinian civil servants who have not been paid for two months.

Lord Triesman: The EU continues to provide aid to the Palestinian people. Following the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority's (PA) failure to commit to the quartet's (US, EU, UN and Russia) three principles, direct budgetary assistance to the PA has been suspended.
	The EU is taking forward, as a matter of priority, a temporary international mechanism, the objective of which is direct delivery and supervision of assistance to the Palestinian people. The mechanism will be aimed at contributing to meet basic needs, including health services. It will consult international financial institutions and other key partners and invite other donors to join actively in the effort to establish the mechanism as soon as possible.

Palestine: Funding

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What progress has been made in implementing the quartet's decision to create a temporary international funding mechanism for Palestine; and when they expect the first payment to be made through it.

Lord Triesman: The EU is currently taking forward work on a temporary international mechanism, the objective of which is direct delivery and supervision of assistance to the Palestinian people. The EU is working urgently to develop such a mechanism, which as a matter of priority will be aimed at contributing to meet basic needs, including health services. It will consult international financial institutions and other key partners and invite other donors actively to join in the effort to establish the mechanism as soon as possible. The Commission has circulated a discussion paper, and donors will meet on 23–24 May to discuss progress. We hope that the mechanism will be making progress by July, although there is much to do. First payments should be made through the mechanism before July.

Palestine: Medical Services

Baroness Tonge: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will make representations to the Government of Israel regarding the call from the organisation Physicians for Human Rights—Israel to pay for drugs, medical salaries and hospital treatment for Palestinians.

Lord Triesman: On 21 May, the Israeli Government approved the transfer of 50 million shekels' worth of medicines and medical supplies to Palestinian medical centres.
	The supplies will be distributed through international aid organisations selected by Israeli Defence Minister Amir Peretz in co-ordination with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
	These funds will not go to the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority (PA). The medical supplies and medicines will be purchased in co-ordination with Palestinian medical centres and international aid organisations, which will determine the needs.
	At the 9 May meeting, the quartet urged Israel to take steps to improve the humanitarian situation of the Palestinian people and reiterated that the PA Government must fulfil their responsibilities with respect to basic human needs, including health services, and must also ensure proper fiscal management and provision of services. We support this position.

Parliamentary Ombudsman

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 29 March (WA 126), on how many occasions since 1997, and in respect of which specific recommendations, the Valuation Tribunals Service has refused or omitted to give effect to the recommendations of the Parliamentary Ombudsman.

Baroness Andrews: Since 1997, neither the Valuation Tribunal Service, which was established in 2004, nor any of the 56 individual valuation tribunals in England has refused or omitted to give effect to any recommendation of the Parliamentary Ombudsman.

Passports

Lord Crickhowell: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why areas of mid-Wales and the Welsh Marches, which are over one hour's travel from the Identity and Passport Service's interview offices to be located in Wrexham, Shrewsbury, Aberystwyth, Cheltenham, Warwick and Birmingham, are not being given the same remote communities services planned for Anglesey, North Gwynedd and Pembrokeshire.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Research carried out by specialist transport planning consultants on behalf of the Identity and Passport Service suggests that it is unlikely that there are any areas of mid-Wales and the Welsh Marches that are more than an hour's average travel time from an interview office. However, the detail of the remote communities scheme is still in development and if it becomes clear that there are areas in mid-Wales and the Welsh Marches which are over one hour's travel, on average, from the interview office network, then the IPS will give due consideration to establishing a remote communities service for these additional areas. If the noble Lord wishes to write to me about specific places, I will have the matter considered.

People Trafficking: Children

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether when dealing with trafficked children they will always apply the principle that the best interests of the child are paramount.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: When victims of trafficking are children and there is a real risk to their safety, the best interests of the child will always be a key consideration in assessing the risk of harm to that individual. The Government recognise that trafficked children are likely to be in need of welfare services and, in many cases, protection under the Children Act 1989. The child's interest will be fully considered by the relevant authority having statutory child protection powers, such as the police or local authority, which will act quickly to secure the immediate safety of the child. Under Section 20 of the Children Act, a local authority may also provide accommodation for any child within its area if it considers that this would safeguard or promote the child's welfare.

Prisoners: Voting Rights

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they intend to publish their consultation paper on prisoners' voting rights.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: No date for the publication of the consultation paper on prisoners' voting rights has been set. However, the UK Government have responded to the European Council of Ministers, setting out a plan of action that should see the consultation paper published before the end of June 2006.

Roads: Drink Driving

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the permitted blood alcohol limit for driving in the United Kingdom; and how this compares to limits in each of the other member states of the European Union.

Lord Davies of Oldham: Based on the latest available information*, the table below shows the national permitted blood alcohol limit for drivers for each member state of the European Union, including the United Kingdom.
	
		
			 Member State National limit (mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood) 
			 Austria 50 
			 Belgium 50 
			 Cyprus 50 
			 Czech Republic Zero 
			 Denmark 50 
			 Estonia 20 
			 Finland 50 
			 France 50 
			 Germany 50 
			 Greece 50 
			 Hungary Zero 
			 Ireland 80 
			 Italy 50 
			 Latvia 40 
			 Lithuania 50 
			 Luxembourg 80 
			 Malta 80 
			 Netherlands 50 
			 Poland 20 
			 Portugal 50 
			 Slovakia Zero 
			 Slovenia 50 
			 Spain 50 
			 Sweden 20 
			 United Kingdom 80 
		
	
	* Source: SARTRE 3 report Making our drivers and roads safer (December 2004)

Roads: Drink Driving

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What further steps they intend to take to tackle the rise in drink-drive fatalities on the roads in Great Britain.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The Government's priority for reducing drink-drive fatalities is through a combination of effective law enforcement, maintaining a very tough penalties regime and continuing investment in high-profile national publicity campaigns to discourage drink driving.
	To this end, we have given the police new powers to carry out evidential roadside breath testing, subject to type approval of appropriate equipment. This will be supported by a number of other measures in the Road Safety Bill, subject to parliamentary approval, which are designed to deter drink-driving and reduce reoffending.
	These include enabling powers to require serious, including repeat, offenders to retake the driving test at the end of their period of disqualification; to improve the operation of the drink-drive rehabilitation scheme; to close certain loopholes in the law relating to high-risk offenders; and to establish a statutory alcohol ignition interlock programme.
	We will also be working closely with police forces this summer in a new nationwide anti-drink-driving publicity and enforcement campaign to coincide with the football world cup.

Roads: Drink Driving

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why, in the Council of Ministers, they are seeking to change road safety measures proposed by the European Commission on the harmonisation of standards on drink-drive limits and the introduction of vehicle speed limiters; and how such a policy will contribute to reducing road accidents.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The European Commission is free to make whatever proposals it thinks fit, and Her Majesty's Government do not seek to change them. Member states are however entitled to express and promote their own positions on particular issues through the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament.
	When a Commission recommendation on the maximum permitted blood alcohol content (BAC) for drivers of motorised vehicles was issued in January 2001, the United Kingdom made it clear that it would not adopt a 50 milligram limit, and the Commission acknowledged this position.
	We have accepted European proposals for the use of speed limiters on heavy vehicles for high-speed roads, but there are no current proposals at European level for speed limiters on passenger cars or light goods vehicles of 3.5 tonnes maximum gross weight or less.

Roads: Charging

Baroness Greenfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, in the planned road-charging pilot schemes, they have considered charging a premium to vehicles with large engine sizes; if so, what decision they have reached on this matter; and what were the reasons for that decision.

Lord Davies of Oldham: Under the powers set out in Part 3 of the Transport Act 2000, local traffic authorities may vary the charge for different classes of motor vehicles. It is not yet clear whether and how local authorities might want to use these powers, and no policy decisions have been taken by the Government about this.

Uganda: Aid

The Earl of Sandwich: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	By how much they have reduced their aid budget in Uganda on grounds of lack of good governance; and which sectors have been affected.

Baroness Amos: All the UK's aid partnerships are based on a shared commitment to reducing poverty, tackling corruption and respecting human rights.
	Our assessment of these criteria in December 2005 identified a number of concerns, especially about the establishment of a level playing field for Uganda's elections. These concerns led to the decision to cut our poverty reduction budget support (PRBS) in 2005–06 by £20 million (from £50 million to £30 million). We reallocated £15 million of these resources to northern Uganda because of the need to do more there to address the humanitarian problems caused by the conflict. The remaining £5 million was withheld until after the elections. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for International Development will take a decision on whether to disburse this £5 million in the light of his recent visit to Uganda.

Uganda: HIV/AIDS

The Earl of Sandwich: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the incidence of HIV/AIDS in Uganda has continued to decline over the past three years; and to what extent this is the result of intervention by the United Kingdom and other donors.

Baroness Amos: Uganda has recorded a major achievement in reducing HIV prevalence from 18 per cent in 1992 to 6.4 per cent in 2005. Donors have made a major contribution to this success. The UK has provided support through our HIV/AIDS umbrella programme through which we have committed £7.2 million over the past four years for a range of programmes, including major assistance to civil society organisations to help to deliver education, treatment and care services. We have also supported the Government's efforts through our poverty reduction budget support.
	However, prevalence has stopped falling in the past five years, in part because people are now able to live longer with HIV, but more importantly because the number of new infections has stopped falling and over the past two years has once again started to rise. The number of new adult HIV infections is estimated to have risen from 88,400 in 2002 to 105,000 in 2005.
	DfID plans a major new HIV/AIDS programme, which will provide a further £9 million over the next three years. This will build on the support we have already provided and, in particular, will address the issues associated with the increase in the number of new infections. It will seek to strengthen HIV prevention by addressing the gaps in coverage of programmes that are aiming to change sexual behaviour, as well as improving access to condoms and other proven means of prevention.

Uganda: Human Rights

The Earl of Sandwich: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What assistance they have provided to which human rights and development non-governmental organisations in Uganda over the past three years.

Lord Triesman: The Department for International Development (DfID) has a civil society programme in Uganda, which provides support for human rights and development non-governmental organisations (NGOs). A detailed breakdown is available only for the past two years. Grants of £517,000 in 2004–05 and £655,000 in 2005–06 were made available. DfID also provides funding to NGOs under its HIV/AIDS programme in Uganda. These amounted to £1.459 million in 2004–05 and £2.009 million in 2005–06. We are providing more detailed information, which we will send to the noble Lord and place in the Library of the House.
	DfID, along with other donors, has also provided £1.5 million to a basket fund that has supported the democratisation process and human rights in Uganda. This fund was used predominantly to help the Electoral Commission with the 2006 elections. £671,000 was also set aside for a national civic education programme managed by the Uganda Human Rights Commission. A further £146,000 was provided to a coalition of NGOs who monitored the democratisation process (including media freedom and freedom of assembly). £81,000 from the basket was used to enable an NGO coalition to petition the courts for a ruling on the constitutionality of Uganda's death penalty and its consistency with Uganda's obligations under the international conventions to which it is party.
	Between 2003 and 2006, our High Commission spent £480,045 in Kampala's small grants scheme on community-based development projects. We are providing more information on that, which we will send to the noble Lord and place in the Library of the House. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office also provided £63,484 to the International Republican Institute from 2004–06 to fund a project to build professionalism in political parties.

United Nations: Human Rights Council

Lord Dykes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their response to the inclusion of countries with uncertain records in the human rights field in the recent United Nations election for the council on human rights.

Lord Triesman: It is true that not all members of the new Human Rights Council have perfect human rights records, but it is encouraging that many countries with the worst human rights records chose not to stand, and that some others with questionable records were defeated. We expect all members to take seriously their obligations to co-operate with the council, to undergo scrutiny themselves under the new universal periodic review mechanism, and to fulfil their responsibilities for the promotion and protection of human rights worldwide.